J-Pole antenna feed point

[KD2GOE]

I am looking to put together my own J-pole for GMRS 462Mhz. on the J-pole calculators and some pics the center conductor is running to the longer tube and the coax shield is running to the shorter tube. but on other pics and videos I see the opposite..

what is the right way what is going on here???

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Convention says to connect the center conductor to the longer side however in practice it seems to work either way.

 

[KC9Q]

I got around it by feeding the J-Pole with a 4:1 coaxial balun. Also seems to help increase the bandwidth.

 

[KD2GOE]

ok thanks for the help guys this is what I came up with out of some cote hanger then coted with epoxy..

the PVC pipe is about 15' high I did a few test about 2.5 miles away and they where clear with a handheld baofeng radio wish my Motorola PR400 had a fresh battery but I get the same rang out of them.
I will need to get an SWR meter on it.. or some day get an FMJ antenna analyzer..

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Why didn't you just make the long side a bit longer and use a TEE instead of an elbow? That would have given you something of a base to make mounting a lot easier and would have kept the antenna section itself free and clear of the mounting pipe. Also plastic cable ties? They won't last too long in the sunlight and with much wind.

 

[W5LZ]

All things considered, it's not all that bad. Sure, there are a few things that could have been done differently/better, but I've used a whole lot worse. I've also come up with some absolutely super fantastic ideas -after- finishing with something! Wish I could remember what half of them were now, oh well.
Zip-ties. I miss-use them as much or more than most people. They are not well suited for a lot of thingys, mostly dealing with being in the sun. I figure they're convenient and not permanent, sort of. If I don't have the 'right' thingy but have a 'wrong' thingy and it'll work for now... I can always fix it later, maybe?
Now raise the little monster another 15 - 20 feet...
- 'Doc

 

[KD2GOE]

Why didn't you just make the long side a bit longer and use a TEE instead of an elbow? That would have given you something of a base to make mounting a lot eadier and would have lept the antenna section itself free and clear of the mounting pipe. Also plastic cable ties? They won't last too long in tbe sunlight and with much wind.

lol this is Mosley an experiment for me. Yeah I know cable ties I was going to see how this one works befor I go all out...
Besides the antenna don't know the PVC and cable ties are there..

All things considered, it's not all that bad. Sure, there are a few things that could have been done differently/better, but I've used a whole lot worse. I've also come up with some absolutely super fantastic ideas -after- finishing with something! Wish I could remember what half of them were now, oh well.
Zip-ties. I miss-use them as much or more than most people. They are not well suited for a lot of thingys, mostly dealing with being in the sun. I figure they're convenient and not permanent, sort of. If I don't have the 'right' thingy but have a 'wrong' thingy and it'll work for now... I can always fix it later, maybe?
Now raise the little monster another 15 - 20 feet...
- 'Doc

Yes this is not permanent the sun will degrade them fast..

 

[The DB]

I've also come up with some absolutely super fantastic ideas -after- finishing with something!

I think that is how human brains work...


The DB

 

[IIIQuaZIII]

Its ugly as fuck....but hey if it works cool.

Cable ties are fine, to hold cable. Just dont put any kind of load or weight on them, they get brittle. They will hold light cable to a pipe for 10 years though....I've pulled off cable older than that, but yeah, you can just snap em off with a tug when they get old. That's not a bad thing...easy to cut off or remove and replace.